Best Resume Skills: What Recruiters Actually Look For

I'm going to tell you something that might change how you approach your skills section. When I was recruiting for Fortune 500 companies, the skills section wasn't where I made decisions — it was where I verified decisions I'd already started forming from your experience bullets.

Skills sections do two jobs: help you pass ATS screening and give recruiters a quick reference checklist. But listing "communication skills" or "team player" without evidence? That told me nothing. I'd skip right past generic claims looking for proof 😏

The candidates who got interviews weren't the ones with the longest skills lists. They were the ones who matched their skills to what we actually needed — and proved those skills through their achievements. Here's how to do that effectively.

Understanding how recruiters use your skills section helps you optimize it correctly.

The ATS Phase

Applicant Tracking Systems scan for keywords from the job posting. If the posting says "Salesforce" and your resume says "CRM software," you might not match. Exact terminology matters for passing automated screening.

Over 90% of large employers use ATS systems. Your skills section needs to include the specific terms that appear in job postings — not synonyms or generic versions 💡

The Recruiter Phase

When humans read resumes, we're verifying and pattern-matching. I'd glance at your skills section, then look for evidence of those skills in your experience bullets. If you claimed "project management" as a skill, I'd expect to see project outcomes in your work history.

Skills without proof are just claims. Claims without proof get ignored.

The Hiring Manager Phase

Hiring managers care about capability fit. They're asking: "Can this person actually do what we need?" Your skills section provides a quick checklist, but your experience section proves whether you can deliver.

Not every skill belongs on every resume. Strategic selection matters.

Start with the Job Posting

Every job posting tells you exactly what skills matter. Read it carefully. Highlight:

• Skills mentioned in "Required Qualifications"
• Skills repeated multiple times
• Specific tools and technologies named
• Soft skills described in the role expectations

These are your priority targets. If the posting mentions "Tableau" three times, that skill should appear prominently on your resume 😊

Match Their Language Exactly

Recruiters and ATS systems look for specific terms. If the posting says:

• "Google Analytics" → write "Google Analytics," not "web analytics"
• "Cross-functional collaboration" → use that exact phrase
• "Python" → write "Python," not "programming languages"

Precision in language signals that you understand what they're asking for.

Select 8-12 Most Relevant Skills

More isn't better. A focused list of directly relevant skills outperforms a long list that includes marginally relevant items. If a skill doesn't directly support your candidacy for this specific role, leave it off.

For comprehensive skill selection guidance, see our resume skills 2026 guide 🚀

Both types matter, but they function differently on resumes.

Hard Skills (Technical Skills)

Hard skills are teachable, measurable abilities you can demonstrate or verify. They include:

• Software and tools (Excel, Salesforce, Figma)
• Programming languages (Python, SQL, JavaScript)
• Technical processes (financial modeling, data analysis)
• Certifications and methodologies (PMP, Six Sigma, Agile)

Hard skills are easy to list and relatively easy for employers to verify. If you claim SQL proficiency, expect to be tested.

Soft Skills (Professional Skills)

Soft skills describe how you work, communicate, and collaborate. They include:

• Communication (written, verbal, presentation)
• Leadership and team management
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Time management and organization

Here's the critical difference: hard skills can be listed; soft skills must be proved 💡

The Proof Problem

When I saw "excellent communication skills" on a resume, it meant nothing. Anyone can claim that. What convinced me was evidence:

Claim without proof: "Strong communication skills"

Proof through achievement: "Presented quarterly findings to executive team; recommendations adopted for 3 product roadmap changes"

The second version proves communication ability. The first just claims it.

How you present skills affects both ATS parsing and recruiter scanning.

Grouping by Category

Organize skills into logical clusters:

Technical Skills: Python, SQL, R, Statistical Modeling, A/B Testing

Tools & Platforms: Tableau, Google Analytics, Salesforce, HubSpot, Jira

Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Lean Six Sigma

This structure makes scanning easy and shows professional organization.

Placement on Resume

The skills section typically appears after your professional summary. This placement ensures ATS captures it early while giving recruiters a quick reference point before diving into experience.

For detailed formatting guidance, see our resume formats guide 😉

Avoiding Common Format Mistakes

Don't use graphics or skill bars. "Python: ●●●●○" looks modern but ATS systems can't parse it. Use plain text.

Don't create multiple columns. Some systems read across instead of down, scrambling your content.

Don't hide skills in images. Text embedded in graphics is invisible to automated screening.

Your approach should evolve with your experience level.

Entry-Level Candidates

With limited professional experience, emphasize:

• Technical skills from coursework
• Tools learned through projects or internships
• Certifications and training
• Transferable skills from part-time work

Focus on demonstrable abilities rather than claimed traits. "Built dashboard in Tableau for senior capstone project" proves more than "familiar with data visualization."

For entry-level strategies, see our resume with no experience guide.

Mid-Career Professionals

At this stage, you should have a track record. Emphasize:

• Specialized technical depth
• Industry-specific tools and platforms
• Process and methodology expertise
• Leadership and stakeholder management

Your skills section should reflect sophistication beyond basics. If you're still listing "Microsoft Office," consider whether that's the best use of limited space 💡

Senior Professionals

Senior resumes should emphasize strategic capabilities:

• Executive communication and influence
• Cross-functional leadership
• Strategic planning and execution
• Change management and transformation

Technical skills still matter but take secondary position to leadership and business impact.

Based on job posting analysis and hiring trends, these skills appear consistently across industries.

Technical Skills in Demand

Data & Analytics: SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Power BI, Excel (advanced), statistical analysis, A/B testing

Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Docker, Kubernetes

Product & Design: Figma, product management, UX research, Agile/Scrum

Marketing: Google Analytics, SEO/SEM, HubSpot, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, content strategy

Finance: Financial modeling, forecasting, SAP, Oracle, variance analysis

Soft Skills in Demand

Communication: Particularly cross-functional communication and executive presentation

Problem-solving: Especially in ambiguous or complex situations

Adaptability: Ability to pivot with changing priorities

Collaboration: Working effectively across teams and departments

Project management: Even in non-PM roles, ability to manage initiatives

Transferable Skills

These apply across functions and industries:

• Data literacy (interpreting and communicating data)
• Stakeholder management
• Process improvement
• Change management
• Documentation and knowledge sharing 🚀

Your skills section makes claims. Your experience section proves them. Here's how to connect the two.

The Skill-Action-Result Formula

For every skill you list, your experience bullets should demonstrate it:

Skill: Project Management Experience Bullet: "Managed cross-functional launch of new product line; coordinated 12-person team across engineering, marketing, and sales to deliver 3 weeks ahead of schedule"

Skill: Data Analysis Experience Bullet: "Analyzed customer behavior data to identify churn risk factors; recommendations reduced monthly churn from 4.2% to 2.8%"

Skill: Leadership Experience Bullet: "Led 8-person sales team to 127% of annual quota; coached 3 team members to promotion within 18 months"

Soft Skills Need Extra Evidence

Because soft skills can't be demonstrated through tool names or certifications, they require more specific proof:

Communication: "Presented monthly analytics reviews to C-suite; insights influenced $2M reallocation of marketing budget"

Problem-solving: "Diagnosed root cause of production delays; implemented process fix that eliminated 15-hour weekly bottleneck"

Leadership: "Mentored 4 junior analysts; all received exceeds expectations ratings within first year" 😊

Listing Skills Without Proof

"Communication skills, team player, detail-oriented" — these claims appear on millions of resumes. Without evidence in your experience section, they're meaningless.

Including Too Many Skills

A 25-skill list suggests you're padding rather than curating. It also makes it hard for recruiters to identify your strengths. Limit to 8-12 most relevant skills.

Using Generic Terms

"Computer skills" or "social media" are too vague. Specify: "Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP, macros)" or "Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn (organic growth, paid advertising)"

Including Outdated Technologies

Listing obsolete tools signals you haven't kept current. Unless the job specifically requires legacy systems, focus on current technologies.

Misrepresenting Proficiency

If you claim advanced SQL skills, expect technical interviews to test that claim. Better to accurately represent intermediate proficiency than to overclaim and fail during interviews 💡

Your skills section is prime ATS territory. Optimize it correctly.

Use Exact Keywords

Copy terminology from job postings exactly. If they say "stakeholder management," use "stakeholder management" — not "working with stakeholders."

Include Variations

Cover your bases with both spelled-out versions and acronyms:

• "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)"
• "Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - Salesforce"

Avoid Hidden Text Tricks

White text, tiny fonts, and keyword stuffing are detected by modern ATS systems and will get your application rejected. Integrate keywords naturally.

Test Your Resume

Copy your resume into a plain text editor. If it reads correctly in order, ATS can probably parse it. If content is scrambled, simplify your formatting.

For detailed ATS guidance, see our resume checklist.

Your skills section works best as a quick reference that your experience section proves. Strategic selection, precise language, and concrete evidence create the combination that gets interviews.

The essentials:

1. Match the job posting — use their exact terminology
2. Limit to 8-12 skills — focus beats breadth
3. Group logically — Technical, Tools, Methodologies
4. Prove soft skills — evidence in experience bullets, not just listed
5. Check ATS compatibility — plain text, no graphics
6. Update for each application — different roles need different emphasis

The candidates who get interviews don't have the longest skills lists. They have the most relevant skills, clearly presented and convincingly proved.

CVTOWORK provides templates with skills sections optimized for both ATS screening and recruiter scanning. The structure handles formatting; you focus on selecting and proving the skills that matter.

Now look at your skills section. Does every item directly support your candidacy for your target role? If not, you know what to adjust 🚀